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How to use MailChannels as a Smarthost

Aaron Horsley
  • Updated

Introduction

It's becoming more common for datacenters to restrict emails from sending over port 25. Mailchannel is another Smarthost provider that allows mail to be sent over an alternative port using Exim. 

 

Procedure

To use MailChannels you will need to configure Exim to authenticate with MailChannels using the credentials they provide you.

 

MailChannels does offer a plugin which allows for quick configuration options, please refer to their official documentation at

 

MailChannels cPanel & WHM plugin for Outbound Filtering 

MailChannels cPanel & WHM Plugin for Inbound Filtering

 

To configure this in the WHM, please navigate to Main > Service Configuration > Exim Configuration Editor, click on the Advanced Editor button, and enter the following in Section:AUTH:

begin authenticators

mailchannels_login:
 driver = plaintext
 public_name = LOGIN
 client_send = : MailChannelsUsername : MailChannelsPassword

Replace MailChannelsUsername and MailChannelsPassword with the username and password provided by MailChannels.

 

Selection_113.jpg

 

The next two sections can be used interchangeably. Use the POSTMAILCOUNT instructions to utilize cPanel max hourly mail limits if you use them. If max hourly limits are not in use, you can skip to the ROUTERSTART section. Do not configure both. 

 

Section: POSTMAILCOUNT


If you want to use Max Hourly Email limits, you will need to utilize the POSTMAILCOUNT section.

      remoteserver_route:
      driver = manualroute
      transport = mailchannels_smtp
      domains = !+local_domains
      route_list = * smtp.mailchannels.net::25 randomize byname

 

Section: ROUTERSTART

send_via_mailchannels:
driver = manualroute
domains = ! +local_domains
transport = mailchannels_smtp
hosts_randomize = true
route_list = * smtp.mailchannels.net::25 randomize byname
host_find_failed = defer
no_more


ROUTESTART.png

Add the following transport to the Section: TRANSPORTSTART configuration box as shown in the following image:

mailchannels_smtp:
driver = smtp
hosts_require_auth = *
tls_tempfail_tryclear = true
headers_add = X-AuthUser: ${if match {$authenticated_id}{.*@.*}\
{$authenticated_id} {${if match {$authenticated_id}{.+}\
{$authenticated_id@$primary_hostname}{$authenticated_id}}}}

 

To include DKIM, please also add:

 

dkim_domain = $sender_address_domain
dkim_selector = default
dkim_canon = relaxed
dkim_private_key = "/var/cpanel/domain_keys/private/${dkim_domain}"

 

TRANSPORTSTART.png

 

If you use mailing lists,  you'll also need to configure the following "mailman_virtual_transport". 

 

Within the Exim Advanced Editor, scroll down to "Add additional configuration setting" and then add "mailman_virtual_transport"

 

headers_add = "X-MC-MailingList: $original_local_part@$original_domain\n"
 
Here's an example of how this will appear in the configuration file:
 
mailman_virtual_transport:
   driver = pipe
   command = /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/mail/mailman \
   '${if def:local_part_suffix \
   {${sg{$local_part_suffix}{-(\\w+)(\\+.*)?}{\$1}}} \
   {post}}' \
   ${lc:$local_part}_${lc:$domain}
   current_directory = /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman
   home_directory = /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman
   user = mailman
   group = mailman
   headers_add = "X-MC-MailingList:$original_local_part@$original_domain\n"

 

Exim 4.94 in cPanel V94 requires an additional step. Please review Unable to send mail due to DKIM / Tainted errors in cPanel 94 when using Mailchanels as a smarthost

 

Once everything has been configured, click save.

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